Snowman feature and accessory system

ABSTRACT

A snowman/snowwoman feature and accessory system comprising transparent hollow members, each having an interior cavity and a connecting tubular shank with the shank bore connecting to permit stuffing or filling the cavity with colored snow, cloth, paper, marbles, fluid, or other suitable material to vary the appearance; the exterior of the bulbous member is in various embodiments specially shaped and may be roughened to receive exterior coloring; slits are provided in some embodiments; special shapes provided are generally longitudinally compressed and laterally extended with respect to the shank axis; special boring and gripping shank ends and exteriors are disclosed.

United States Patent [191 Lorenzo [451 Oct. 15, 1974 1 SNOWMAN FEATURE AND ACCESSORY [21] Appl. No.: 338,741

[52] US. Cl. 46/16, 46/22, 46/135 R [51] Int. Cl A6311 3/36 [58] Field of Search 46/16, 22, 135, 165, 170

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,202,896 6/1940 Buchner et a1. 46/165 2,601,107 6/1952 Ellett r 46/165 2,699,621 l/1955 Levinson r 46/165 2,746,204 5/1956 Karpf 46/165 2,843,970 7/1958 46/16 2,966,005 12/1960 Anderson 46/165 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 65,679 11/1965 Germany 46/16 Primary Examiner-Antonio F. GIuida Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Cutting Attorney, Agent, or Firm.l0hn F. McClellan, Sr.

[57] ABSTRACT A snowman/snowwoman feature and accessory system comprising transparent hollow members, each having an interior cavity and a connecting tubular shank with the shank bore connecting to permit stuffing or filling the cavity with colored snow, cloth, paper, marbles, fluid, or other suitable material to vary the appearance; the exterior of the bulbous member is in various embodiments specially shaped and may be roughened to receive exterior coloring; slits are provided in some embodiments; special shapes provided are generally longitudinally compressed and laterally extended with respect to the shank axis; special boring and gripping shank ends and exteriors are disclosed.

6 Claims, 57 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDBU 1 5 1974 saw 2 or 3 FlG.3c

FlG.3b

FIG.30

Passe FlG.4b

FIG. 40

FIG.4LI

FIG.4k

FIG.4j

FIG.4i

SNOWMAN FEATURE AND ACCESSORY SYSTEM vised from materials at hand such as carrots, bits of coal, sticks, and cast-off items of clothing. Small children, however, are unable to select and affix such articles in pleasing and secure arrays on snowmen. The selection is haphazard and offers very little chance for creative change by the-children. Even adults find lack of real variety, and difficulty in selecting and affixing attractive snowman features and clothing items, both in snow and in styrofoam snowmen.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a unified system of visually attractive snowman features and clothing items which are easily and securely attachable in both natural and artificial snowmen, and which are internally and externally changeable in some aspects to vary the appearance as desired, allowing participation by the users as in preparation of the items prior to use.

Other objects of the invention are to provide snowman accessories which are safe, durable, easy to use, economical to manufacture and to distribute, educational for small children and fun for adults to use.

The above and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent on examination of the following description, including the drawings in which:

FIG. 1a is an isometric view of a snowman with accessories and features according to this invention;

FIG. lb is a side detail in partial section of the FIG. 1 device;

FIG. 2a is a side section, FIGS. 2b-2f and 2j2l are side section details, and FIGS. 2g 2i are front details;

FIGS. 3a-3d and 3f are side section details, FIGS. 3e and 3f are a front view and a side detail;

FIGS. 4a-4e are side section details, FIGS. 4f-4l are front views;

FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c are side section details, FIG. 50 is a side elevation in partial section, FIG. 5d is a front view;

FIGS. 6r1-6d, f and g are front views, FIG. 6e is a side section detail;

FIG. 7 shows elevation details;

FIGS. 8a-8d, f and g show side section details, and FIG. 8e shows an isometric side view.

In the drawings, like numerals refer to like parts.

FIG. la shows a snowman S with accessories according to this invention, as follows: eyes 200b, nose 300d, mouth 400g buttons 500d, scarf 600f, tie 600a, belt 600g and hat 700d.

FIG. lb shows a detail of the FIG. 1 device in partial section.

The accessories are designed to provide easily installed, attractive snowman features and articles of apparel, with the eyes, nose, mouth and buttons being-of the same general configuration, a configuration affording the user opportunity to vary the appearance of these features using his own materials.

The general configuration of the eyes, nose, mouth and buttons comprises, in the context of eye 200b, a tubular shank 202 with a larger diameter bulbous portion 204 on the outer end, and a specialized holding and material admittance inner end 206, both of which ends are provided in various modifications, as will be described.

' FIG. 2 shows an array of eyes 200. In FIG. 2a, eye 2000 is representative of the general complete form being shown, with shank 202 having screw threads208 for installation. As will be seen later in reference to FIG. 8, other shank configurations are provided for special purposes and are adapted for use as apart of any embodiment. The screw threads allow each eye to be inserted and removed repeatedly to alter the visual characteristics, and allows the extent of eye protrusion to be adjusted.

The shank 202 is in the form of a circular-section tube having a bore 210 with an open end 206. The bore connects with the interior of the bulbous shell 204 shown here in spherical form, forming the eyeball. In diameter, the bulbous portion is greater across than the shank, forming a stop which prevents too-deep insertion into the snow. Transparent plastic such as polyethylene is used for the structure, allowing vegetablecoloring colored snow 212 to be thrust into the eye cavity 214 producing red-veined eyes or other interesting variations. Alternatively, as in FIG. 2b a marble 216 or other body proportioned for movement within the eye 20% can be used to form an eyeball, with or without the addition of snow. A cork 218 may be inserted to prevent snow from entering. FIG. 20 shows a I polyethylene or other lightweight pupil 220 floating on 'water222 or other fluid. FIG. 2d shows another inventive provisionin the form of an eyeball 200d having an outer surface 223 roughened as with sandpaper to receive and retain markings 224 of chalk, crayon, or paint, providing other appearance variations. A stuffing of material 212 as in FIG. 2a can be used with this embodiment also. FIG. 2e shows an eyeball 200a of colored plastic which is particularly effective when illuminated from within.

The longitudinally compressed or flattened front 226 of the FIG. 2f embodiment provides a shallow curve of the eyeball which fits well against the body of the snowman. It also is particularly effective in use'with inserts such as the paper or cloth inserts shown in face view in FIGS. 2g through I which are shown with spherical eyeballs. The insert 228, FIG. 2g, may be a flat sheet, with markings onit, forced into place, as indicated in side section in FIG. Zj, or may be a crinkled paper ball 230 colored and thrust in as similarly shown in FIGS. h and k, or bundles of soft material such as the eyelashbearing bundle 232 illustrated in FIGS. 21 and ZIJBoth the spherical pop" eyes and flattened eyes can be rotated in place to vary the slant of the eyes and the protrusion, producing unexpected and startling changes in snowman expression. V

FIG- 3 shows snowman noses for use with the eyes of this invention. The noses 300a, b and 0. FIGS. 30, 3b and 3c are preferably of different size but otherwise similar in structure to the plastic devices of FIGS. 20, d and e being clear, solid color and having a rough exterior respectively, and can be used in the same manner described, to produce nose variations. Similarly, FIG. 3d shows a hollow longitudinally extended, conical or carrot 300d nose, axially aligned parallel with the shank, which can be filled partially or entirely, preferably' with colored material. FIG. 3e is a side view of a nose 3002 having a conventionally shaped front protrusion with nostrils and a high bridge, the tubular shank protrudes from an intermediate portion of the body which is flat. This comprises a regular nose, which can be filled and can be rotated in place to vary the slant of the nose in the face of the snowman while preserving the nose location. FIG. 3f, j are front view and side section of a Wizard of 02 type triangular nose 300f, broad at the base and pivoted at the top, protruding at the lower front and with the shank 302f extending from a substantially flat back. This can be filled, as for example, with tinsel, and can be rotated to vary the appearance.

FIG. 4 shows snowman mouths for use in conjunction with the eyes and noses of FIGS. 2 and 3. The mouths 400a, b, and c of FIGS. 4a, b and c are preferably different in size but similar in construction and function to the noses of FIGS. 3a, b and c respectively, and, as indicated in FIG. 4d can be stuffed with marked-paper 430 or other material to show teeth; alternatively they can be filled or partially filled with colored snow or fluid. FIG. 4e shows a side section of an embodiment 4002 similar to the eye of FIG. 2f and to the nose of FIG. 3} in that the bulbous portion 404 is longitudinally compressed, and is extended in a plane transverse to the axis of the shank 402, in this case forming a mouth. The mouth preferably has a halfmoon shape and curvature terminating in corners, see 434 FIG. 4f, a divided lip contour 436' across the front. The shank 402 preferably attaches at the midpoint of the back of the mouth. As in views 4f, 4g, 4h, 4i, and 4j, the mouths 400f, 400g, 400h, 400i, and 400j can be colored, can be supplied with teeth by insertion of marked material or by filling with colored liquid, and can be inverted. The mid-point shank location allows the lips to be pivoted to a slanted or to an inverted position, altering a symmetrical mouth arrangement, or changing a smile to a snarl. The flat back prevents digging into the snowman face, so that pivoting does not leave a scar. If desired, as in FIGS. 4k and 41, flat or pointed end tabs 438 and 440 can be provided at the sides of the mouth for better securance and to prevent the mouth from rotating. The lip division 436 provides also a realistic upper and lower tooth array protrusion when provided with teeth.

FIGS. 50, 5b and 50 show buttons 5000, 500b and 5000 for use with the snowman devices of the other Figures; these buttons are similar in structure and function to the clear, solid color, and roughened devices of FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c and function the same. The buttons can be filled with material 530 such as aluminum foil, beads, cloth, colored fluid or snow, or other suitable materials, can be exteriorly marked as at 524, FIG. 5b, or can be illuminated from behind by a lamp 542 to make a striking showing as in FIG. 5c, which is of a uniform translucent, colored plastic. Particularly in cold weather and at night. the small amounts of heat given off by electric light bulbs of the wattage of small Christmas tree bulbs does not appreciably melt snow, and even less so if flashing. FIGS. 5d and 5e show face and side section detail respectively of a conventionalappearance button 500d embodied with a longitudinally compressed portion 544 having a communicating shank 502 allowing the button to be filled, colored, or illuminated.

FIG. 6a shows a face view of a four-in-hand necktie 600a similar in structure and function to the previously described devices, especially the mouths of FIG. 4e-4j, except that the tie has a shank 602 at one end, the upper end so that the tie can be pivoted in pendulum fashion about it. Stays 646 can be provided which ex- 5 tend to either side of the upper portion of the tie to stabilize the side to side motion. Also similar to the mouths, are the bow-ties 600b, 6000 and 600d of FIGS.

60, 6c and 611, which have, respectively, plain, transversely extended lobes 648, a plain tab 638 on the end 0 of each lobe, and toothed tab 640 on the lobes. These structures are alike in having, as shown in FIG. 62, the connecting shank structure 602 and internal cavity 614 adapting them for insertion of materials to make a bright display.

The scarf 600f of FIG. 6f is similar in construction and function to the four-in-hand tie, but has a split, divided lower body 650, 650 to prevent covering buttons below it. The belt 600g of FIG. 6g is similar to the ties of FIG. 6b-6e.

FIGS. 7a-7e shows hats of similar construction to the foregoing snowman features and accessories, 7a being a straw hat 700a with a band 752 inserted and displayed, FIG. 7b being a top hat 700b with a roughened exterior 722, and slits 754 for insertion of a band. Embodiments 7000 and 700d of FIGS. 7c and 7d are dunce hats, with similar slits 754 for holding a band as in FIG. 7d. FIG. 7e is a ladys hat 700e stuffed with a coiled flowered paper band 752 which has been allowed to uncoil. It will be apparent that the dunce hat 7000 of FIG. 70 is similar to the nose of FIG. 3d, and can be used when filled with water to produce a nose with icicles dripping from it. The slits are optional in the hats, but preferable in those shown.

FIG. 8 shows other shanks adapted for use with snowman, in addition to the screwthread shank of FIG. 1. Where maximum grip is desired, the raked barbs 856, 856 extending radially from shanks 802a and 802b of FIGS. 80 and 8b are used together with a full borediameter opening in the end of the shank. The devices are pushed in and twisted, engaging the barbs in undisturbed snow. If artificial material is to be gripped, the tapered shape of the FIG. 8a shank 802a tends to be sprung outward against the resilient holding of the barbs, making a tight assembly.

In general, the plain tubular open ends 806d and 8060 as in FIG. 8d (uniform bore) and FIG. 80 (enlarged-end bore) are inserted in the same manner as the barbed ends and with less distortion when rotated all the way during insertion.

Engagement of the snow, with the snow gripping both interior and exterior, secured the device better. Axially serrated end structure 806e as in FIG. 8e, a side detail, increases the gripping effect, and sharp serrations 806f as in FIG. 8f can be used to cut into icy snow as the device is inserted with rotation about the long axis. The snow can be painted at the desired spot and the device can be rotated about the long axis and inserted allowing the painted portion to appear inside. Closed conical ends 806g as at FIG. 8g can also be used, but are in many cases less secure than the other fastenings shown, and must be perforated, as at 858 to allow filling with fluid, if desired.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a snowman system, an appurtenance comprising: an elongate shank for insertion into a snowman, the shank having portion at one end larger across than the shank, the shank having a bore substantially uniform in diameter throughout the length thereof and opening through the opposite end of the shank, the larger portion having a cavity connecting with the bore, all said shank and larger portion being at least partially light transmissive, and the opposite end of the shank having serrations exteriorly thereon.

2. In a snowman system as recited in claim 1, the serrations on the opposite end of the shank comprising soft plastic barbs extending radially therefrom.

3. In a snowman system as recited in claim 1, the larger across portion being conical in shape, with the cone axis parallel with the shank axis and the cone having a slit in at least one wall portion thereof.

4. In a snowman system as recited in claim 1, the larger across portion being bulbous and having fluid therein.

5. In a snowman system as recited in claim 4, the larger across portion having a solid body therein having a contrasting characteristic with respect to the material of said appurtenance, and floating on said fluid.

6. In a snowman system as recited in claim 5, the solid body comprising a spherical member proportioned for movement within said bulbous portion.

=I l =l= 

1. In a snowman system, an appurtenance comprising: an elongate shank for insertion into a snowman, the shank having portion at one end larger across than the shank, the shank having a bore substantially uniform in diameter throughout the length thereof and opening through the opposite end of the shank, the larger portion having a cavity connecting with the bore, all said shank and larger portion being at least partially light transmissive, and the opposite end of the shank having serrations exteriorly thereon.
 2. In a snowman system as recited in claim 1, the serrations on the opposite end of the shank comprising soft plastic barbs extending radially therefrom.
 3. In a snowman system as recited in claim 1, the larger across portion being conical in shape, with the cone axis parallel with the shank axis and the cone having a slit in at least one wall portion thereof.
 4. In a snowman system as recited in claim 1, the larger across portion being bulbous and having fluid therein.
 5. In a snowman system as recited in claim 4, the larger across portion having a solid body therein having a contrasting characteristic with respect to the material of said appurtenance, and floating on said fluid.
 6. In a snowman system as recited in claim 5, the solid body comprising a spherical member proportioned for movement within said bulbous portion. 